Natural astaxanthin improves muscle function by reducing free radical damage and oxidative stress.
Natural astaxanthin has a strong potential in sports nutrition. As an antioxidant, astaxanthin transported throughout the body to all organs and muscle tissues, combating excessive free radical production by athletes.
Heavy exercise is energy dependent. When the muscles burn calories by oxidation, free radicals is formed as a bi-product [90].Free radicals can damage the muscles and reduce their ability tocontract [77]. It has been shown that athletes have increased free radical levels in the blood and lower levels of antioxidants [1].
One of the reasons why heavy exercise has negative effects is that free radical formation exceeds the capacity of antioxidant defence in the body. Another reason is that blood flow is closed off to different tissues, organs and parts of the muscles during exercise. This causes a lack of oxygen (ischemia). When oxygen returns to these areas (reperfusion), a variety of different free radicals compounds are formed [75]. Oxidative stress is implicated in the development of muscle pain, weakness and fatigue.
Natural astaxanthin improves muscle function by reducing freeradical damage.
Substation studies focused on astaxanthin benefits the body’s in recovery from heavy exercise:
Daniel R Brown et al. (2021). “The effect of astaxanthin supplementation on performance and fat oxidation during a 40 km cycling time trial.” J Sci Med Sport. 2021 Jan;24(1):92-97.
“This study aimed to investigate whether supplementation with 12 mg⋅day-1 astaxanthin for 7 days can improve exercise performance and metabolism during a 40 km cycling time trial. Design: A randomised, double-blind, crossover design was employed. Methods: Twelve recreationally trained male cyclists (VO2peak: 56.5 ± 5.5 mL⋅kg-1⋅min-1, Wmax: 346.8 ± 38.4 W) were recruited. Prior to each experimental trial, participants were supplemented with either 12 mg⋅day-1 astaxanthin or an appearance-matched placebo for 7 days (separated by 14 days of washout). On day 7 of supplementation, participants completed a 40 km cycling time trial on a cycle ergometer, with indices of exercise metabolism measured throughout. Results: Time to complete the 40 km cycling time trial was improved by 1.2 ± 1.7% following astaxanthin supplementation, from 70.76 ± 3.93 min in the placebo condition to 69.90 ± 3.78 min in the astaxanthin condition (mean improvement = 51 ± 71 s, p = 0.029, g = 0.21). Whole-body fat oxidation rates were also greater (+0.09 ± 0.13 g⋅min-1, p = 0.044, g = 0.52), and the respiratory exchange ratio lower (-0.03 ± 0.04, p = 0.024, g = 0.60) between 39-40 km in the astaxanthin condition. Conclusions: Supplementation with 12 mg⋅day-1 astaxanthin for 7 days provided an ergogenic benefit to 40 km cycling time trial performance in recreationally trained male cyclists and enhanced whole-body fat oxidation rates in the final stages of this endurance-type performance event.”
Baralic et al. (2013). “Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on paraoxonase 1 activities andoxidative stress status in young soccer players.” Phytother Res 27(10): 1536-1542.
“The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of astaxanthin (Asx) on paraoxonase (PON1) activities and oxidative stress status in soccer players. Forty soccer players were randomly assigned in a doubleblind fashion to Asx and placebo (P) group. Blood samples were obtained before, 45 and 90 days after supplementation. PON1 activity was assessed by using two substrates: paraoxon and diazoxon. The oxidative stress biomarkers were also examined: total sulphydryl group content (-SH groups), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), advanced oxidation protein products and redox balance. The significant interaction effect of supplementation and training (p < 0.05) on PON1 activity toward paraoxon was observed. The PON1 activity toward diazoxon increased in Asx group after 90 days (p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in P group. SH groups content rose from pre- to post-supplementation period only in Asx group (supplementation and training, p < 0.05; training, p < 0.01). TBARS levels decreased after 45 days and increased after 90 days of regular soccer training in both groups (training, p < 0.001). Redox balance decreased significantly in response to the regular training, regardless of treatment group (training, p < 0.001). Asx supplementation might increase total SH groups content and improve PON1 activity through protection of free thiol groups against oxidative modification.”
Baralic et al. (2015). “Effect of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Salivary IgA, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation in Young Soccer Players.” Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015: 783761.
“The physiologic stress induced by physical activity is reflected in immune system perturbations, oxidative stress, muscle injury, and inflammation. We investigated the effect of astaxanthin (Asx) supplementation on salivary IgA (sIgA) and oxidative stress status in plasma, along with changes in biochemical parameters and total/differential white cell counts. Forty trained male soccer players were randomly assigned to Asx and placebo groups. Asx group was supplemented with 4 mg of Asx. Saliva and blood samples were collected at the baseline and after 90 days of supplementation in preexercise conditions. We observed a rise of sIgA levels at rest after 90 days of Asx supplementation, which was accompanied with a decrease in prooxidantantioxidant balance. The plasma muscle enzymes levels were reduced significantly by Asx supplementation and by regular training. The increase in neutrophil count and hs-CRP level was found only in placebo group, indicating a significant blunting of the systemic inflammatory response in the subjects taking Asx. This study indicates that Asx supplementation improves sIgA response and attenuates muscle damage, thus preventing inflammation induced by rigorous physical training. Our findings also point that Asx could show significant physiologic modulation in individuals with mucosal immunity impairment or under conditions of increased oxidative stress and inflammation.”
Djordjevic et al. (2012). “Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on muscle damage and oxidative stress markers in elite young soccer players.” J Sports Med Phys Fitness 52(4): 382-392.
“AIM: The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of Astaxanthin (Asx) supplementation on muscle enzymes as indirect markers of muscle damage, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant response in elite young soccer players. METHODS: Thirty-two male elite soccer players were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to Asx and placebo (P) group. After the 90 days of supplementation, the athletes performed a 2 hour acute exercise bout. Blood samples were obtained before and after 90 days of supplementation and after the exercise at the end of observational period for analysis of thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), superoxide anion (O2*), total antioxidative status (TAS), sulphydril groups (SH), superoxide-dismutase (SOD), serum creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RESULTS: TBARS and AOPP levels did not change throughout the study. Regular training significantly increased O2* levels (main training effect, P<0.01). O2* concentrations increased after the soccer exercise (main exercise effect, P<0.01), but these changes reached statistical significance only in the P group (exercise x supplementation effect, P<0.05). TAS levels decreased significantly post- exercise only in P group (P<0.01). Both Asx and P groups experienced increase in total SH groups content (by 21% and 9%, respectively) and supplementation effect was marginally significant (P=0.08). Basal SOD activity significantly decreased both in P and in Asx group by the end of the study (main training effect, P<0.01). All participants showed a significant decrease in basal CK and AST activities after 90 days (main training effect, P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). CK and AST activities in serum significantly increased as result of soccer exercise (main exercise effect, P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). Postexercise CK and AST levels were significantly lower in Asx group compared to P group (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that soccer training and soccer exercise 53 are associated with excessive production of free radicals and oxidative stress, which might diminish antioxidant system efficiency. Supplementation with Asx could prevent exercise induced free radical production and depletion of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense in young soccer players.”
Earnest et al. (2011). “Effect of astaxanthin on cycling time trial performance.” Int J Sports Med32(11): 882-888.
“We examined the effect of Astaxanthin (AST) on substrate metabolism and cycling time trial (TT) performance by randomly assigning 21 competitive cyclists to 28 d of encapsulated AST (4 mg/d) or placebo (PLA) supplementation. Testing included a VO2max test and on a separate day a 2 h constant intensity pre-exhaustion ride, after a 10 h fast, at 5% below VO2max stimulated onset of 4 mmol/L lactic acid followed 5 min later by a 20 km TT. Analysis included ANOVA and post-hoc testing. Data are Mean (SD) and (95% CI) when expressed as change (pre vs. post). Fourteen participants successfully completed the trial. Overall, we observed significant improvements in 20 km TT performance in the AST group (n=7; -121 s; 95% CI, -185, -53), but not the PLA (n=7; -19 s; 95% CI, -84, 45). The AST group was significantly different vs. PLA (P<0.05). The AST group significantly increased power output (20 W; 95% CI, 1, 38), while the PLA group did not (1.6 W; 95% CI, -17, 20). The mechanism of action for these improvements remains unclear, as we observed no treatment effects for carbohydrate and fat oxidation, or blood indices indicative of fuel mobilization. While AST significantly improved TT performance the mechanism of action explaining this effect remains obscure.”
Malmsten et al. (2009). “Dietary supplement with astaxanthin-rich algal meal improves strength endurance – A double blind placebo controlled study on male students.” Carotenoid Science 13: 20-22.
“The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with astaxanthin on physical performance. Forty healthy paramedic students were recruited for this test in a double blind placebo controlled study. In this study, we used algal meal (AstaREAL® biomass) as astaxanthin supplementation. Twenty of the subjects received capsules filled with algal meal to provide 4 mg astaxanthin per capsule, whereas the other twenty received placebo capsules for six months. The physical parameters monitored were fitness, strength/endurance and strength/explosivity by standardized exercises. Before starting the dietary supplementation, base values for each of the subjects were obtained. At the end of the six month period of dietary supplementation, the average number of knee bendings (squats) increased by 27.05 (from 49.32 to 76.37) for subjects having received astaxanthin and by 9.0 (from 46.06to 55.06) for the placebo subjects. Hence, the increase in the astaxanthin supplemented group was three times higher than that of the placebo group (P=0.047). None of the other parameters monitored differed significantly between the groups at the end of the study period. Based on this findings, it suggested that supplementation of astaxanthin is effective for the improvement of strength endurance that may lead to sports performance.”
Supporting study on astaxanthin and body recovery from heavy exercise:
In this randomized controlled study astaxanthin supplementation of 6 mg/day for 4 weeks increased whole blood levels of the antioxidant glutathione in active young men but did not affect oxidative stress markers or substrate utilization during exercise. Opposite results regarding fat oxidation were obtained by Daniel R Brown (2021) mentioned above when using 12 mg/day, however, in this study astaxanthin appears to be an effective agent to increase endogenous antioxidant status.
Bibliography
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75. Vincenzo Parisi et al. (2008).“Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year.” Ophthalmology. 2008 Feb;115(2):324-333.e2.
77. Keiko Kono et al. (2014). “Effect of Multiple Dietary Supplement Containing Lutein,Astaxanthin, Cyanidin-3-Glucoside, and DHA on Accommodative Ability.” Curr Med Chem. 2014 Aug; 14(2): 114–125.
90. Balcerczyk A, Gajewska A, Macierzynska-Piotrowska E, Pawelczyk T, et al. (2014). “Enhanced antioxidant capacityand anti-ageing biomarkers after diet micronutrient supplementation.” Molecules 19:14794-808.
Algalif, Natural Astaxanthin: Human Clinical Studies Overview
